EXHIBITION OF 1874—ANNUAL ADDRESSES. 153 
busy work of capital, while labor is compelled to contribute to its 
own discomfiture in supporting and aiding those who so unjustly 
burden it. Again, trifling improvements are annually made to 
agricultural implements, so as to keep up the price to the old 
standard, that capital may be richly rewarded at the expense of 
thoughtless, careless labor. What is true of agricultural imple¬ 
ments, is equally true of other inventions which are in general 
use. In reference to all these, the labor of the country is paying 
heavy tribute, not to the inventor for whom the law was designed, 
but to the gambling and unscrupulous speculator for ' his skill in 
robbing the inventor of his invention. This is the rule; there 
may be exceptions to it. 
LET LABOR ORGANIZE. 
v 
Is there no remedy for all these and kindred evils in this 
country where the people can make and change their own laws at 
will ? Is there not intelligence, manhood and independence 
enough in the laboring masses to think out, and perfect some 
system which shall reserve and preserve to itself a just and fair 
reward for its toils, privations and hardships—some just share of 
what it produces ? In other words, is it not possible to establish 
some just and fair relation between capital and labor so that they 
may be partners indeed, rendering honorably and honestly what 
is justly due to each other? It would seem that something in this 
direction might be accomplished, but it can only be done—indeed 
the first' step cannot be taken to that end—until there is some 
organization of the agricultural and laboring interest. Various 
efforts have at different times been made for this purpose, an$ they 
have thus far failed. But it by no means follows that success in 
that direction is unattainable. 
Banks are established, railroads are built, and all great enter¬ 
prises where capital takes the lead are accomplished only by 
organization, and in all such cases the general management of such 
affairs is entrusted to agents more or less faithful and capable, but 
always well paid. Attempts of this kind hUve been made by the 
agricultural interests, but on the first failure, in consequence of 
the incapacity or dishonesty of its agents, the enterprise has been 
given up in despair. Banks, railroads and other great enter- 
